One More Dish of Peas, Please

The Owl and the Pussy-Cat (nonsense poem written in 1871)
By Edward Lear

The Owl and the Pussy-cat went to sea
The Owl and the Pussy-cat went to sea
In a beautiful pea-green boat,
They took some honey, and plenty of money,
Wrapped up in a five-pound note.
The Owl looked up to the stars above,
And sang to a small guitar,
"O lovely Pussy! O Pussy, my love,
What a beautiful Pussy you are,
You are,
You are!
What a beautiful Pussy you are!"

Pussy said to the Owl, "You elegant fowl!
How charmingly sweet you sing!
O let us be married! too long we have tarried:
But what shall we do for a ring?"
They sailed away, for a year and a day,
To the land where the Bong-Tree grows
And there in a wood a Piggy-wig stood
With a ring at the end of his nose,
His nose,
His nose,
With a ring at the end of his nose.

"Dear Pig, are you willing to sell for one shilling
Your ring?" Said the Piggy, "I will."
So they took it away, and were married next day
By the Turkey who lives on the hill.
They dined on mince, and slices of quince,
Which they ate with a runcible spoon;
And hand in hand, on the edge of the sand,
They danced by the light of the moon,
The moon,
The moon,
They danced by the light of the moon.

Pea Pasta Salad with Bacon, Radishes and Eggs

Cook's notes: One more dish of peas please in a pasta salad to satisfy your comfort food cravings. Prepare the salad several hours in advance for flavors to meld.  To lighten the dish use light mayo or Miracle Whip. Assembling this dish goes faster if eggs, cheese, onion, radishes and bacon are prepped ready to add into sauce. The sauce can easily be doubled if necessary.  Recipe serves 4-6.

Ingredients: 

• 2 cups frozen peas (blanched) or fresh peas
• 4 cups dried pasta shells
• 1/3 cup Miracle Whip or mayonnaise
• 2TB. apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 tsp. each dill, parsley flakes and chives
• 3/4 cup red onions, diced
• 1-1/2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, cubed
• 4 radishes, thinly sliced
• 6-8 pieces of bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 2 large hard boiled eggs

Directions: 

• Cook pasta al dente, drain but do not rinse so sauce sticks to pasta.
• Whisk together Miracle Whip, sugar and vinegar in a large bowl.
• Add in peas, cooked pasta, herbs, onions, cheese, bacon, radishes, cooked bacon pieces and eggs. 
• Mix well and cover lightly with plastic wrap.
• Refrigerate several hours before serving.